Urogynecology Fellowship Program

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM:

FEMALE PELVIC MEDICINE
and
RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

Education Objectives of the Program

Our broad educational objective is to train academic urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgeons who are capable of improving the quality of life of women with pelvic floor dysfunction. We will provide the teaching, research, and clinical resources for fellows to meet their academic objectives.

Faculty	CREST Program
Fellows Trained	Research
Rotation Schedule	Fellow Benefits
Off-Service Rotations	Surgical Experience
Facilities	Application You may fill out the form online and print.

Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Faculty

Michael Heit, M.D., MSPH - Program Director. Dr. Heit was an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Louisville Health Science Center prior to leaving his position as Director of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine in December 2003. Dr. Heit completed his Ph.D. in public health (clinical investigative sciences) in 2005. This specialized training helps him to better develop research protocols, mentor fellows, and aggressively compete for intra/extramural funding.

Carol A. Graham, M.D. – Dr. Graham practices at the new Norton Suburban Women's Pavilion and is affiliated with Norton Suburban Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. She was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, at the University of Louisville Health Science Center from 2001 through 2003. Prior to this, Dr. Graham was an Assistant Professor in the Wayne State University Department of OB/GYN and director of Urogynecology. Dr. Graham completed her fellowship at Wayne State University under the direction of Veronica Mallett, M.D. Before entering her Fellowship, Dr. Graham was in private practice where she developed an interest in the laparoscopic management of gynecologic and urogynecologic problems. During her fellowship she developed an interest in basic science research and had an active animal laboratory where she studied the effects of hormonal manipulation on voiding behavior.

Debbie Brodzik, PT – Ms. Brodzik is a physical therapist who specializes in the treatment of women with pelvic floor dysfunction including chronic pain syndromes originating in the pelvic floor. She is responsible for providing our fellows with training in the non-surgical management of various pelvic floor disorders and pain syndromes. Her office is located within our office complex.

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Fellows Trained

2001-2004 Miles Murphy, M.D.

Miles Murphy, MD completed his fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Surgery in July 2004. He also obtained his MSPH in clinical investigative sciences at the University of Louisville as part of our program. After finishing i June 2004, he joined Vincente Lucente, M.D, MBA in a busy Urogynecology practice in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

2002-2005 Kari Kubik, M.D.

Kari Kubik, MD completed her Urogynecology and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship with us in June 2005, along with a Master’s of Science in Public Health. She started her training in July, 2002 after completing residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kubik graduated from Boston University in 1994 and from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1998. She is currently on the faculty/staff at Methodist Hospital in Dallas, TX.

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Rotation Schedule

Block diagram of proposed rotation for each month of program

Year One

July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Clinical Service				Research				Clinical Service

Year Two

July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Colorectal		Clinical Service					Urol		Elective	Research

Year Three

July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Clinical Service				Clinical Service				Research

Clinical Service – Each fellow will spend an equal amount of time with each Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery attending while on the clinical service

Research – Each fellow will have protected time away from clinical duties to participate in research activities.

These research activities include, but are not limited to,

Ongoing clinical research trials
Basic science investigation
CREST program activities

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Off-Service Rotations

The fellows will participate in the following rotations during their training program

Colorectal

Educational objectives

1. Understand and participate in the diagnostic workup of patients with anal incontinence, rectal prolapse, and defecatory dysfunction

2. Understand and participate in the nonsurgical and surgical management of patients with anal incontinence, and defecatory dysfunction

3. Participate in the diagnostic evaluation and surgical management of patients with rectal prolapse

Urology

Educational objectives

1. Understand and participate in the diagnostic workup of urologic patients with urinary incontinence, and upper urinary tract disorders

2. Understand and participate in the non-surgical and surgical management of urologic patients with urinary incontinence and upper urinary tract disorders

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Facilities

Offices

Our clinical and research offices are located in the New Women's Pavilion at Norton Suburban Hospital, adjacent to our state of the art Continence Center. These facilities include offices for attendings, fellows and clinical staff. Each fellow is provided with a networked laptop computer.

The Continence Center at Norton Suburban Women's Pavilion

This center is a fully equipped state of the art diagnostic unit, which is located at the Norton Suburban New Women's Pavilion. The center is equipped with all the diagnostic testing needed for evaluating women with all forms of pelvic floor dysfunction.

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CREST Program

The University of Louisville developed a Masters of Science/PhD program in public health beginning in July 1999. Dr. Heit was part of the first graduating class in June 2001 and expects to complete his PhD in December 2004. This program provides the foundations for a successful career in clinical investigation. Beginning in the second year, each fellow will be enrolled in the Masters of Science program. By the end of his/her fellowship, each fellow will graduate with a Masters of Science in Public Health degree. They will be excused from their clinical duty during lectures which run from Monday through Thursday from 4:00-5:30PM. During this coursework, the fellow will be responsible for identifying a mentor and developing a research question for their thesis project.

The 24 credit hours of required course work in the MSPH provides students with a broad base of knowledge in epidemiologic research methods, biostatistics, bioethics and the methodologies of health services and outcomes research. Early in their course work, students consult with a faculty mentor and identify one or more clinical research problems or questions of importance to their academic discipline. These questions serve as focal points throughout heir program of study and the writing of their thesis (6 credit hours). The MSPH in Epidemiology-Clinical Investigation Science can be completed in two years. However, a three-year option is also available.

Two Year MSPH Option:

Summer Session Year 1

PHCI 661 Introduction to Public Health Informatics (1 Credit)

Fall Semester Year 1

PHCI 611 Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health (2 Credits)

PHCI 621 Fundamentals of Biostatistics (2 Credits)

PHCI 631 Introduction to Environmental Health (2 Credits)

PHCI 651 Social and Behavioral Sciences in Health Care (2 Credits)

PHCI 699 Mentored Research

Spring Semester Year 1

PHCI 622 Design and Analysis of Case Control Studies (2 Credits)

PHCI 623 Design and Analysis of Cohort Studies (2 Credits)

PHCI 624 Clinical Trials I: Design and Planning (2 Credits)

PHCI 632 Ethical Conduct of Health Care Research (2 Credits)

PHCI 699 Mentored Research

Summer Session Year 2

PHCI 601 Evaluating the Health Care Literature (1 Credit)

PHCI 699 Mentored Research (2 Credits)

Fall Semester Year 2

PHCI 625 Clinical Trials II: Conducting and Evaluating Clinical Trials (2 Credits)

PHCI 662 Health Care Economics (2 Credits)

PHCI 602 Health Services and Outcomes Research (2 Credits)

PHCI 699 Mentored Research(2 Credits)

Spring Semester Year 2*

PHCI 699 Thesis Preparation (2 Credits)

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Research

The fellow will have every opportunity to conduct clinical research throughout their three years of training. By participating in the CREST program, our fellows will be equipped with the basic tools necessary to develop a successful career in clinical research.

We believe that each patient seen in the clinical setting is a potential study candidate and we encourage each person to enroll in one of our many research protocols

Ongoing Clinical Research

NIH

o Sub-contractor for Pelvic Floor Treatment Network

o Continence and Reduction Efforts (CARE) Study

o Childbirth and Pelvic Symptoms (CAPS) Study

· Model for Explaining Differences in Continence Care Seeking (MEDICS) Project